(Today we begin three days of poetry by Robert Beveridge, with two fine efforts. We hope the readers enjoy them as much as we do–The Eds.)

Client

He considered somnambulance

as a way to attract attention

but his priest counselled

against its dangers

in a mountainous region.

Instead, he projects himself,

possesses the bodies

of orange marmosets.

Robert Beveridge

Dow Saah (“Sweet Bean Paste”)

Steam rises as the buns

firm up. Lamplight

flickers over the pages

of the old cookbook,

the next page perhaps

a recipe for fish, tofu,

breast of longpig.

The scratches at the door

intensify. The buns

are almost ready. Blow

out the lamp.

Robert Beveridge

(header provided by DWB)